Fasting is purposefully refraining from eating and sometimes drinking. We fast for various reasons. Sometimes, we have to observe a fasting period for medical procedures. As a part of a medical procedure such as surgeries or check-ups or even prior to that, we have to fast. In addition, situations that require general anaesthesia to prevent pulmonary aspiration of gastric content also require fasting.
Some religious observances also require fasting. Some examples include:
– Nativity, Lent, Assumption in Christianity- 180-200 days annually
– Ramadan by Muslims – during daytime for 30 days
– Yom Kippur – a day-long fast
There are different types of fasting methods in this category which include alternate day fasting, time-restricted eating, modified fasting, water-only fasts, juice fasts, and calorie restriction.
Key Takeaways
- The main difference between fasting and starving is that fasting is purposefully refraining from eating, while starving is the deficiency in nutrition that is necessary for the proper functioning of the body.
- Fasting can be beneficial for the body, but should be done under medical guidance since it can be otherwise harmful.
- Starving is the extreme form of malnutrition, and it can cause organ failure and then death.
